Puppy Angst
Puppy Angst Puppy Angst is a gazy dreamy fuzz pop band from Philadelphia started by Alyssa Milman (guitar, vocals). Alyssa’s songwriting combines raw, diary-like lyricism colored by the biting introspection of adulthood with shoegaze and dream pop influences, resulting in tracks that tell a noisy and unapologetic coming-of-age story. Dan Leinweber (guitar, vocals), John Heywood (bass), and Eric Naroden (drums) round out the rest of the band. As of February 2023, Pauli Mia has joined on synth and backing vocals. Alyssa previously toured with fellow Philly pop outfit Kississippi, and their past projects include Past Life and Blushed, in which they were a founding member. Dan played lead guitar in Blushed alongside Alyssa, and currently also creates music under his projects Greenspace and Radial Gradient. John plays bass in Alex G, Eric is the frontman of In Lieu of Roses, and Pauli is the frontwoman of Twin Princess. Creeping Charlie (MN) Creeping Charlie “makes music for cool older sisters” extending from sublime ballads to indie and punk rock. Comprised of sister duo Julia (lead singer/ guitarist/ songwriter) and Esmé Eubanks (bassist), later incorporating Jack Malone (drums) and Harry Miles of Atomic Cafe (guitar), the band released their debut EP Asymmetrical in May, 2020, and it landed high on the NACC radio chart, tying with iconic acts like Car Seat Headrest and STRFKR. Inspired by the likes of Mazzy Star, Built to Spill, and Nirvana, be prepared to both cry and get sucked into a mosh pit at their shows. Julia Eubanks draws from a broad palette of influences, blending a Patti Smith early punk ethos through a guitar-driven 90’s Seattle pastiche, interweaving sonic experimentation with irresistible hooks. The 10 tracks on How to Kill Creeping Charlie— ranging from quietly reflective to all-out rocking— paint a vivid picture of youth and the alienating times we live in, and how to find redemption. Since its recent origin, the band has taken the Minneapolis music scene by storm. creeping charlie is bigger than the recordings— it’s invasive and everywhere. You may be wondering How to Kill Creeping Charlie; you can’t. Spirit Weak If Drug Church, Pup and The Menzingers walked into a bar, Spirit Weak would be the punchline. Spirit Weak is a South Philadelphia punk adjacent band. Before becoming a full fledged band, Spirit Weak was a solo recording project spearheaded by Mazz Cardone , who began booking and playing punk shows in Philadelphia in his early teens. In March of 2023 Spirit Weak assembled as a full band, and had two months to write a set for their first show. Spirit Weak played their first show on May 16th 2023, with Dead Bars; and they hit the ground running. Since, Spirit Weak has been booked with Off With Their Heads, New Junk City, Dead Bars, Timeshares, Mercy Union, Dosser, Sekunderna, Friend, Froggy, Church Girls, Heavy Lag and many more! In Lieu of Roses In Lieu of Roses worked quietly and diligently in Philadelphia from their start in 2019 before releasing their first offering some two years later, a single to prelude their new self-released EP. The single, an organ-led indie blues song called “Side by Side,” dropped in April. That EP, called Please Send, came in June. 2022’s Please Send is largely characterized by that initial blues rock style, with singer/guitarist Eric Naroden stepping between croons and howls akin to Modest Mouse and Bon Iver. Each song on Please Send swings, but also has a heavy indie rock feel and dynamic control that usually only acts with many years behind them can create. A year later, In Lieu Of Roses returns with For Eternity, another self-released EP designed to show a different side of the group.
Jennifer Vanilla
Jennifer Vanilla w/ Cheeky and Trans Zimmer Described by fans as “Madonna meets Hey Arnold meets Michael Alig meets Grace Jones meets infinity,” Jennifer Vanilla is the persona-driven fantasy vessel LARPed into reality by performance artist Kye Grant (once a longtime member of NYC indie outfit Ava Luna). Known for their dynamic interactive performances, Jennifer is an ecstatic hypist brought to life inside the temporary collective formed during their live shows. Their new album Castle in the Sky—”an addictive morphine drip of synths and art pop” (Nylon) inspired by the likes of Deee-lite and Will Powers— is out on Sinderlyn Records with remixes by musclecars, Jerry Paper, and Love Injection. This performance will be a special live set with collaborator Brian Abelson on the decks. All events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Super City
Super City: Melodic and guitar driven, Super City is known for their hooky pop sound that blends heavy rock elements and danceability, all with band choreography that results in killer live performances. This Baltimore band expertly crafts guitar and synth earworms that thrive on the creative tension between bombastic rock and roll and stylized movements. Their structures and melodies leave no room for a dull track. At times soothing and inviting, at times posturing and timeless, Dan Ryan and Greg Wellham vocally guide this pop band into a new, heavy, and beguiling territory that is both memorable and brash with their new full-length LP ‘In The Midnight Room,’ available everywhere on October 20th via SofaBurn Records. Quiet Hollers: Shape-shifting Kentucky indie outfit Quiet Hollers’ music connects with listeners around depression, anxiety, grief, and addiction, nodding to a wide range of influences across the spectra of alt. country, indie rock, punk, and in what they have coined “post americana.” Formed by its songwriter Shadwick Wilde in the early 2010’s, the group has announced work on their fifth LP, Loud Mountains, a painfully self-aware retrospective on a decade of fighting through mental illness and the music industry.All events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Ronnie Stone
Ronnie Stone:Ronnie Stone seems to have traveled from both the past and future simultaneously, bringingwith him a unique style of contemporary synth-pop that seamlessly blends nostalgia with thebleeding-edge of modern dance music. The NYC-based producer and multi-instrumentalistwrites and records all of his music, utilizing a massive arsenal of 80’s synthesizers to cook updance-pop gold for the freaks and the loners.His latest album, Ride Again (Feeltrip Records), is the culmination of a decade spent dwellingin the shadows at nightclubs and warehouse parties. Inspired by the solace and epiphanieshe found on the dance floor, he blends New Wave with the groovy and persistentinfectiousness of Techno and House.Ryder Houston:Ryder Houston is a Philadelphia-based filmmaker and musician born and bred just outside of Dallas, Texas. As much as his evocative sound dotes on alternative pop acts Depeche Mode, Garbage, and even Madonna at her most controversial, it also seems to suggest something greater operating on the periphery: a dark, omnipresent melodrama not unlike the crooning music of David Lynch composer Angelo Badalamenti or the baroque sensibilities of Lana Del Rey. Nevertheless, Houston’s spidery vocals continue to weave clichés of lust and rock ‘n’ roll menace anew, adhering himself to a certain groovy allusion to sleazy, opium-den electronica. Plainly stated, it is within this blasphemous little slipstream that Ryder Houston’s unique brand of sonic nostalgia exists.DJ Set by KorineAll events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
KulfiGirls
KulfiGirls – KulfiGirls are a Philadelphia-based rock band fronted by lead vocalist Abi Natesh who uses the South Indian Saraswati veena to present a novel “carnatic rock” sound, inspired by diverse genres of pop and rock. Their upcoming single “Field of Fireflies” combines classic psychedelic-rock elements with an experimental ensemble of instruments. Larlene – Philly BFF trio, Larlene, curates a dream pop stoner metal float tank for your heart. They hit with a post-punk, fuzz rock wall of sound with cutting harmonies and clearly hurt feelings. Larlene will take you from nasty garage jams to ethereal heartbreak. The Angies – The Angies are a four piece punk rock / noise band from Philadelphia who pair high-intensity performances with experimental sounds. Frontwoman Tara Gilligan combines the abrasive energy of Stooges-era Iggy Pop with the raw, introspective lyricism of Courtney Love and Hole to deliver a truly unforgettable and confrontational live experience. All events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
Moonshine
Depending on whom you ask, the esoteric effects of lunar cycles can be wide-ranging: good fortune, human fertility, ocean tides, werewolf prevalence and loss of sanity among them. For the like-minded musicians, DJs, dancers and visual artists who make up the Moonshine collective, the planetary satellite above all inspires their eponymous monthly event, driven by an inclusive ethos and a shared love for experimentations in dance culture.Since its founding in 2014, Moonshine has carved out an enviable niche in Montréal’s nightlife milieu by celebrating a wide range of fledgling local talents, championing Afro-futuristic, bass-heavy, electro-funk sounds, and bringing together communities that wouldn’t necessarily cross paths otherwise. As the name indicates, the lunar-based Moonshine recipe has the collective throw an all-night, sensory-soaked party on the Saturday after every full moon in ever-shifting, unpredictable locations across the city, always strictly disclosed via text messages. With fresh cuts supplied by resident DJs Pierre Kwenders, San Farafina, and AKantu, visual installations by Boycott, and a slew of live musicians and performers that have included Kaytranada, Dâm-Funk, Le1f, Venus X, Uproot Andy, Bambii and Branko, the parties have become a staple of the after-hours scene, in Canada and abroad, with appearances in NYC, LA, Paris, Brussels, Milan, Lisboa, London, Barcelona and Santiago just to name a few.“The essence of Moonshine came out of parties we used to throw in our kitchens,” recalls Kwenders. “We felt like we couldn’t go out and find what we had cooked up in that kitchen. It’s one of the reasons we started Moonshine: to share that with more people who felt just like us, and who didn’t have access to such sounds or vibes.” Still going strong four years on, Moonshine has also begun making use of the aesthetic, network and structure it established with the parties to promote affiliated artists, expanding its vision from ephemeral moonlit soirées to an expanding catalog of genre-busting music, art and apparel.Doors 9:30pmAll events at Dolphin Tavern are 21+
K-Pop Night with DJ Chen
Join KPop Dance night with DJ Chen at Concourse Dance Bar – Center City’s adult playground! Concourse Dance Bar is the place to be yourself, feel the music, and have fun. Known for its positive vibes and eclectic, retro flair, our massive, two-story nightclub brings people together. Dance to a variety of ‘90s and ‘00s throwback tunes from our rotation of guest DJs. Or, step off the dance floor and into the ball pit, Ice Room or infinity room – it’s always an unforgettable experience here. Tucked away between Market St and JFK Boulevard, Concourse is Philly’s underground adult playground! Take advantage of all these quirky nooks and crannies all with the backdrop of your K-Pop favorites.
Lael Neale
Lael Neale splits her time between rural Virginia and Los Angeles. She loves walking, Emerson, fantasy fiction, espresso and not listening to music. She is an amateur gardener, painter and musician.Opening support: www.instagram.com/woodwosemusic/
Jared Mattson presents PEANUT
“Sounds like a lost 1980s preppy soul cassette fished out from the bottom of a lake, complete with cod-reggae number – and one song in Japanese…” – @uncut_magazine @jaredmattsonmusic (aka @themattson2) presents “PEANUT”: a record release show on June 7, 2023 / Record dropping via @chaz.wick label @company.recordsJared Mattson – Guitar, Vocals@tanukichanmusic – Bass@joe._.lyle – Drums, VocalsEXPOEXPO is the collaborative project between Philadelphia-based musicians Dave McGrory (Tangled Up, Grace Vonderkuhn), Russ Israel (russy, Rew), and Tyler Yoder (Milieu Lust, High Reeper, Cosmic Guilt). While McGrory, Israel, and Yoder have all played in others’ and each others’ projects previously, EXPO marks the start of something particularly salient for the three… It is the embodiment of a distinct and true collaboration between the three members – one in which they are free to musically explore, challenge, and to indulge in their wildest impulses and excesses, unbound by the constraints of classic song forms or aesthetics. The resulting self-titled EP, out on June 2nd via Brooklyn-based label Window Sill, can best be described as garage-psych-epics-for-kids-who-like-to-club. Throughout the EP’s four tracks, the trio seamlessly weaves sample-based disco grooves with post-punk chugging and fuzzed out guitar explorations, all the while with McGrory’s fierce and cutting vocal howl leading the charge… It’s a thrill ride of sonic maximalism – one that encapsulates the joy, inspiration, and most importantly, the sheer exhilaration, of three friends cutting loose.Johnny DynamiteJohnny Dynamite is a singer, songwriter, producer based in NYC/Philly, and is backed by his band “The Bloodsuckers”. His music is characterized by its moody, melodic sound and unconventional production style. He gained popularity through the DIY music scene in New York and has since amassed a dedicated fanbase. As a lyricist and vocalist, Dynamite is known for his emotional and introspective delivery. He released his debut album “Heartbroken” in 2020, followed by “Sleeveless” in 2021, which helped him gain recognition in the post-punk community worldwide.
Dougie Poole
DOUGIE POOLEA country songwriter from Brooklyn’s indie underground, Dougie Poole blurs the lines between genre and generation on his third solo album, The Rainbow Wheel of Death. Rooted in sharp songwriting, Poole’s golden baritone, and the organic sounds of a live-in-the-studio band, it’s a classic-sounding record for the modern world, stocked with songs that make room for everything from old-school synthesizers to contemporary storytelling.With The Rainbow Wheel of Death, Dougie Poole breathes new life into country music, retaining the acclaimed elements of his previous work – drum machines, acoustic guitars, synthesizers, and his deep-set voice – while pushing toward something warm, organic, and prismatic.Greg MendezGreg Mendez is a songwriter and recording artist based in Philadelphia. His upcoming self-titled full length releases May 5th, 2023 via Forged Artifacts and Devil Town Tapes, following his acclaimed 2020 album, “Cherry Hell.”ALL SHOWS AT DOLPHIN TAVERN ARE 21+, NO EXCEPTIONS.